Free-to-play darling Genshin Impact set to get a next-gen makeover on the PlayStation 5

MiHoYo's Genshin Impact could soon be receiving an enhanced update on the PlayStation 5, featuring "improved graphics," according to the developer. Just what this means remains to be seen. However, the comment comes shortly after the arrival of the game's major v1.1 update, which adds new characters and a new main quest mission. 

MiHoYo redefined expectations of free-to-play games when Genshin Impact hit the market. The game delivered a full-fledged AAA RPG experience, with free-to-play gacha elements that didn't hinder gameplay for the most part. Since its release last month, Genshin Impact has been "the biggest revenue generator on the App Store and Google Play," according to a Sensor Tower analyst. Having drawn in over US$245 million from mobile alone, MiHoYo is well-positioned to deliver a substantial revamp to the upcoming PlayStation 5 version.

What would this potentially entail? Genshin Impact's elemental combat system features a number of glossy, reflective objects which could be enhanced substantially through hardware ray-tracing. Better shadow work and higher quality textures are also likely improvements. Minimizing load times by leveraging the PS5's SSD would also be much-appreciated: entering and exiting dungeons currently takes a good deal of time on mobile.